Definition
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
Alternative Names
Chest radiography; Serial chest x-ray; X-ray - chest
Why the Test is Performed
A chest x-ray may be ordered when a person's symptoms include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, a chest injury, or difficulty in breathing. The test is also used when tuberculosis, lung cancer, or other chest or lung disease is suspected.
A serial chest x-ray (repeated or sequential) may be used to evaluate changes (for example, an increase in the size of an abnormality) found on a previous chest x-ray.
How the Test is Performed
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an x-ray technician. Two views are usually taken: one in which the x-rays pass through the chest from the back (posterior-anterior view), and one in which the x-rays pass through the chest from one side to the other (lateral view). You stand in front of the machine and must hold your breath when the x-ray is taken.
How to Prepare for the Test
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Chest x-rays are generally avoided during the first six months of pregnancy. You must wear a hospital gown and remove all jewelry.
How the Test Will Feel
There is no discomfort. The film plate may feel cold.
Risks
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is very low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray.
What Abnormal Results Mean
In the lungs:
In the heart:
- Size and shape of the heart determined
- Position and shape of the large arteries
In the bones:
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
